India and France have agreed to strengthen bilateral defence and security partnership through enhanced intelligence and information-sharing, operational cooperation and bolstering mutual capabilities. The annual India-France Strategic Dialogue, co-chaired by NSA Ajit Doval and French President’s Diplomatic Adviser Emmanuel Bonne in Paris, agreed to pursue new initiatives in maritime, space and cyber domains, according to an official release.
These were the major takeaways from the meeting between National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and and Defence Minister Florence Parly in Paris on Friday, officials said here on Saturday. The two sides also reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral ties, they added.
The meeting took place on the occasion of the 35th session of the Indo-French strategic dialogue. Following up on the meeting between President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the sidelines of the G20 in Rome recently, Le Drian stressed his country’s commitment to deepening the Indo-French strategic partnership and strengthening its various aspects, particularly in the areas of defence, space, civil nuclear energy and security.
Doval and Le Drian also discussed the priorities in the fight against climate change with his interlocutor.
The two sides underscored the importance of the mutual trust between France and India, as well as that of the Indo-French partnership in working to strengthen multilateralism and defend a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law. They also called for continued Indo-French coordination, including at the UN Security Council, on Afghanistan.
Doval and the French Defence Minister discussed ways to expand bilateral and regional co-operation, deal with new threats and support India’s defence industrialization and self-reliance.
India also welcomed European Union’s (EU) Indo-Pacific strategy and looked forward to the French presidency of the EU in the first half of next year as an opportunity to give further shape to the EU’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, including security, connectivity, sustainability and economic development.
The Indian NSA stressed the point that France is one of India’s premier global and Indo-Pacific partners. In the talks, both sides agreed that the emerging trends in global affairs reinforce the need for a closer partnership between India and France.
The two sides discussed global security scenario, including current developments and long term challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, the situation in Afghanistan, Africa, Southeast Asia and West Asia, the challenge of terrorism and emerging threats in maritime, cyber and space domain.